Local Knowledge: 2012 Wells Fargo Championship

The Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte is host to the Wells Fargo Championship -- a favorite stop among many PGA Tour players.

T.J. Auclair, Interactive Producer

PGA.com

The stars are out for this week's Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Hunter Mahan - they're all there, along with a host of others.

Quail Hollow is one of the favorite stops on the schedule among most of the pros thanks to the incredible course and the equally incredible hospitality.

Before the tournament teed off, we caught up with Quail Hollow PGA Head Professional Scott Davenport for a little Q&A.

PGA.com: Welcome, Scott. Thanks for joining us again this year. As is always the case, a great course -- Quail Hollow -- has attracted a great field -- including the likes of Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Hunter Mahan and more. Can you talk a little about your stellar field?

Davenport: We're obviously very excited and flattered that the best in the game want to play at Quail Hollow. The goal was stated by club president Johnny Harris a long time ago. He wanted to bring best players in the game to Charlotte. That was the mission when we first started and we try and do everything we can to make them want to come and play here. We listen to the players and hear what they like and don't like and adjust the best we can. I think they appreciate that, as well as the folks in Charlotte. We generally have good spectator turnout. It's just a nice place to play.

PGA.com: Lucas Glover is your defending champion after defeating fellow Clemson Tiger Jonathan Byrd on the first hole of a playoff in 2011. This has been a tough season for Lucas so far as he's battled through injury. Do you think this could be the week that gets him going in the right direction given the good vibes he'll likely feel at a place he's won before?

Davenport: I think Lucas will do well. He enjoys the golf course and obviously plays it well. He's been around the last couple of weeks. He's friends with a member, so he's played some recently. The people around here love Lucas, so it creates a lot of positives for him and it's also kind of a home game. It's nice to go somewhere you like to play and I know Lucas likes Quail Hollow.

PGA.com: Can you think of a better start to a PGA Tour season than the one we've had so far in 2012?

Davenport: It'd be tough to think of one. The Masters with Bubba was a great thing for golf. We're sorry he's not here this week, but we understand with what's going on with his family and the addition of a new baby.

Tiger's win at Bay Hill was a big deal for him and golf. When Tiger's doing well, everyone in golf benefits from it. Phil's win at AT&T was great too. It's been a great start.

PGA.com: What makes Quail Hollow such a special golf course?

Davenport: It's just golf. We don't have residential mixed in with the golf. Above all else, it's a fun place to play golf. It's difficult to lose a ball here. You can hit it in the water, but you've got plenty of room to play. You can hit it in the trees and still play out of there. You can play from areas outside of the rough line and do well. You'll make some bogeys, but you can also make birdie and you can also have some eagle tries. If you start with a couple of bogeys, there are short, par 4s coming up with opportunities for some fun stuff and you can be rewarded. There's plenty of risk-reward out there, which makes it fun.

PGA.com: Final question for you, Scott. From your perspective, what's the best part of tournament week and why?

Davenport: Well, the most fun part is the last nine holes. There's only one Masters, but we have opportunities to make up ground down the stretch, evidenced by Rory McIlroy making six threes in a row when he won in 2010. A lot of things can happen on the last nine holes. All the holes on back nine, especially the last six, are grouped around the lake. It's got a great feel.

Thursday when the players tee off has an electric feel. But, there's nothing like watching them finish on Sunday.

The stars are out for this week's Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Hunter Mahan - they're all there, along with a host of others.

Quail Hollow is one of the favorite stops on the schedule among most of the pros thanks to the incredible course and the equally incredible hospitality.

Before the tournament teed off, we caught up with Quail Hollow PGA Head Professional Scott Davenport for a little Q&A.

PGA.com: Welcome, Scott. Thanks for joining us again this year. As is always the case, a great course -- Quail Hollow -- has attracted a great field -- including the likes of Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Hunter Mahan and more. Can you talk a little about your stellar field?

Davenport: We're obviously very excited and flattered that the best in the game want to play at Quail Hollow. The goal was stated by club president Johnny Harris a long time ago. He wanted to bring best players in the game to Charlotte. That was the mission when we first started and we try and do everything we can to make them want to come and play here. We listen to the players and hear what they like and don't like and adjust the best we can. I think they appreciate that, as well as the folks in Charlotte. We generally have good spectator turnout. It's just a nice place to play.

PGA.com: Lucas Glover is your defending champion after defeating fellow Clemson Tiger Jonathan Byrd on the first hole of a playoff in 2011. This has been a tough season for Lucas so far as he's battled through injury. Do you think this could be the week that gets him going in the right direction given the good vibes he'll likely feel at a place he's won before?

Davenport: I think Lucas will do well. He enjoys the golf course and obviously plays it well. He's been around the last couple of weeks. He's friends with a member, so he's played some recently. The people around here love Lucas, so it creates a lot of positives for him and it's also kind of a home game. It's nice to go somewhere you like to play and I know Lucas likes Quail Hollow.

PGA.com: Can you think of a better start to a PGA Tour season than the one we've had so far in 2012?

Davenport: It'd be tough to think of one. The Masters with Bubba was a great thing for golf. We're sorry he's not here this week, but we understand with what's going on with his family and the addition of a new baby.

Tiger's win at Bay Hill was a big deal for him and golf. When Tiger's doing well, everyone in golf benefits from it. Phil's win at AT&T was great too. It's been a great start.

PGA.com: What makes Quail Hollow such a special golf course?

Davenport: It's just golf. We don't have residential mixed in with the golf. Above all else, it's a fun place to play golf. It's difficult to lose a ball here. You can hit it in the water, but you've got plenty of room to play. You can hit it in the trees and still play out of there. You can play from areas outside of the rough line and do well. You'll make some bogeys, but you can also make birdie and you can also have some eagle tries. If you start with a couple of bogeys, there are short, par 4s coming up with opportunities for some fun stuff and you can be rewarded. There's plenty of risk-reward out there, which makes it fun.

PGA.com: Final question for you, Scott. From your perspective, what's the best part of tournament week and why?

Davenport: Well, the most fun part is the last nine holes. There's only one Masters, but we have opportunities to make up ground down the stretch, evidenced by Rory McIlroy making six threes in a row when he won in 2010. A lot of things can happen on the last nine holes. All the holes on back nine, especially the last six, are grouped around the lake. It's got a great feel.

Thursday when the players tee off has an electric feel. But, there's nothing like watching them finish on Sunday.